This page is for teaching staff which includes advice and guidance on how to manage infections in the classroom as well as our resources for implementing vaccination campaigns including teaching, planning and promotional resources.
Many infectious diseases can be managed by reinforcing the measures recommended in Preventing and controlling infections. Other actions include:
- encouraging those who are unwell not to attend the setting or remain separate from others, wherever possible. Further guidance on exclusion periods is available for specific infectious diseases
- ensuring and promoting all eligible groups to take up the offer of immunisation programmes including COVID-19 and flu
- Having good ventilation to let fresh air in
- reinforcing good hygiene practices such as frequent cleaning and hand hygiene
- requesting that parents or carers inform the education or childcare setting of a diagnosis of any infectious disease
During an outbreak or incident, when there are either several cases, or indications of more serious disease, additional measures may be required. Please refer to Managing outbreaks and incidents for more information.
Further information about the management of an infectious individual can be found at:
- Management of an infectious individual
- Managing outbreaks and incidents
- Managing specific infectious diseases: A to Z
Contacted your local Health Protection Team (UKHSA)
Contact UKHSA for advice if you are concerned and/or have seen:
- a higher than previously experienced and/or rapidly increasing number of absences due to the same infection
- evidence of severe disease due to an infection such as if the person affected has been admitted to hospital
- more than one infection circulating in the same group of children, young people and staff for example chicken pox and scarlet fever
- an outbreak or serious or unusual illness for example:
- E.coli 0157 or E. coli STEC infection
- food poisoning
- hepatitis
- measles, mumps, rubella (rubella is also called German measles)
- meningococcal meningitis or septicemia
- scarlet fever (if an outbreak or co-circulating chicken pox)
- tuberculosis (TB)
- typhoid
- whooping cough (also called pertussis)
When contacting UKHSA, prepare information in advance to help them to support you. Find out what information you need in What to expect from contacting your HPT.
The West Midlands Health Protection Team can be contacted on 03442253560 option 0, option 2.